Spiritual Friendship James Shepherd
Series: WISDOM FOR LIFE
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 2nd October 2016
Passage: 1 Samuel 20:1-42
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 We live in a society today that has never been more connected than ever.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:11 In the palm of my hands, I have access to over a thousand of my friends on Facebook
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 and hundreds of followers on Instagram.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 And yet the repetitive conclusion from all of this
00:00:17 --> 00:00:21 that we keep hearing from experts and doctors and psychologists
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 is that we are more than ever now lonely.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:28 We've never been more lonely in the history of man than today.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:33 In all our technological advancement, to become more connected with the world around us,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 we've become less lonely.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 With all this technological power at our disposal for making friends,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:45 we are growing in our struggle to actually make deep and meaningful, intimate friendships.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:46 Why?
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 I think there are a number of contributing factors to this going on in our world,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:52 but there are two main ones.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 Firstly, a growing individualism.
00:00:55 --> 00:01:01 As a society, we've grown more and more individualistic and autonomous in the way we interact with the world.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:06 Once upon a time, we had much more value in community itself.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 Taking part in community life was important.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 Volunteering for your local club was important.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:19 Volunteering to ref or to help out at a weekend sport was seen as important as we engaged in the community.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:25 And as we did engage in the community, as we settled down into a community and planted roots,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 we allowed our friendships to flourish as we stayed and lingered.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:35 However, sometime now, this communal culture has shifted and slowly faded out
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 to replace a more individualistic culture.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:43 Most clubs, sports clubs particularly, are struggling to get volunteers now
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 to help run sports on the weekends.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:49 And technology has allowed people to be more and more mobile these days.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:55 People, or young people like myself, are refusing to settle down in one place
00:01:55 --> 00:01:59 and desiring to move on, to look and step to travel and to explore,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 to go where they desire to go.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:09 There is a culture now of not wanting to settle down and invest in one place,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:13 but rather to go from place to place where it suits the person.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:18 They take new jobs in new places, in new cities, in new countries even.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 And so the generations rising up are the ones now who have money
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 and truly the opportunity to go wherever they want to.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 The world is their oyster.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 And because of such, they are growing more and more individualistic.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 But at what cost is this?
00:02:36 --> 00:02:42 Friendship, for them, is no more than circumstance and interest, momentary.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 And it's rarely given a chance to flourish,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:49 as when their circumstance changes, their friendships have to change also.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 And so whilst many young people enjoy an opportunity to go travel,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 to work in different places, to work in different cities and countries,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:05 they suffer as they lose their substantial and deep connections with their friends.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:07 That's the first one.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 And secondly, the romanticising of sexually committed relationships.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 As a teenager growing up,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 there are countless of teen dramas on TV every single night.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 Shows like The O.C., One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 shows that your kids might have watched growing up.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 For those of you who are a little bit older than I am,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 there are shows like Degrassi High,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 Beverly Hills, 90210.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 And if you're a fan of the ABC,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 there was a show called Heartbreak High on television that you might have watched.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 Many of these shows have one underlying theme in them
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 that dominated the whole story,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 and that was relationships.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 Whether sexual, friendship, or family,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 most of these stories follow the lives of young, attractive people
00:03:53 --> 00:03:59 as they worked through the different complexities of teenage relationships.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 With the story being developed around one particular relationship,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 one that was sexual and romantic in nature,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:12 and the journey us viewers would go on was to see whether or not this relationship would make it.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 It would last.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 Would they live happily ever after?
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 Would it end in disaster?
00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 Why are we often so drawn in to these shows?
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 There's so many of these kinds of shows.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 They all have the same type of storyline, the same theme,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 and yet they're so popular.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:35 Why are we so drawn in to the tumultuous love story of Ryan and Marissa in The O.C.?
00:04:35 --> 00:04:41 What is it about Dan and Serena or Chuck and Blair in Gossip Girl that keeps us watching?
00:04:44 --> 00:04:48 These shows, they target something that we desperately all want for ourselves,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 and that's to be loved, to enjoy intimacy,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 to enjoy companionship,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 to have a satisfying, special relationship that lasts.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 And shows like this,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 constantly bombarded by these shows like this,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 would have us believe that this type of intimacy,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 this type of love,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:13 can only be found in those romantic, sexually committed relationships.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:18 This ideal is perpetuated by not just our fictional TV shows,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 but our reality ones as well.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 As you all know, there are shows like The Bachelor out there,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 Married at First Sight,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 Farmer Wants a Wife.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:32 These shows perpetuate this ideal romantic relationship to us.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 And so constant exposure to all of these
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 is enough to make you think that the most fulfilling relationship
00:05:38 --> 00:05:43 you could be in is a committed sexual relationship.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:48 Friendship, then, is just reduced to a second-class form of relationship
00:05:48 --> 00:05:52 that can't be as fulfilling as things like marriage
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 or sexual committed relationships.
00:05:56 --> 00:06:00 And these contributing factors affect friendship in two different ways.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:05 You see, individualism has removed the space for friendship altogether
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 and therefore for friendship to flourish
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 and become deep and meaningful for people.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:13 And the romanticization of sexual relationships,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 things like marriage as well,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:19 has removed altogether the value and the benefits of friendship
00:06:19 --> 00:06:23 as a place to find intimacy and love.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 Therefore, in our society today,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 friendship has a second-class status.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 It's not viewed very highly.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 It's viewed as something that comes and goes by circumstance and interest.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 And if you're lucky to find a best friend for life,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 then you're truly, truly lucky.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:45 However, the Bible paints a very high view of the picture of friendship,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 having a very, very high view indeed,
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 so much so that at the heart of the gospel
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 is the restoration of our friendship with God.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 As Jesus says in John 15, 15,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:12 And so as we look at this topic of spiritual friendship,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:18 I want to discuss the difference the gospel makes in our lives,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:22 how the gospel shapes our friendships that we make together here.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 That friendship does not have to be some sort of second-class relationship.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 But we can have truly satisfying, deep and meaningful,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 intimate friendships with each other
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 because of Jesus and what he's done for us here.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 And so firstly, we need to just deconstruct the myth
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 that friendship is a second-class relationship
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 that lacks intimacy and satisfaction.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 So if your Bible's open, we're going to stay in 1 Samuel.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 We're going to look at the example of Jonathan and David
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 and an example of true friendship
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 and deep and meaningful, satisfying friendship.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 So we are first introduced to David and Jonathan as friends
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 back in chapter 18,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 straight after David killed Goliath,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 the hero of the Palestinian army.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 And verse 1 of 18 shows that Jonathan's response to David
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 was incredible.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 After David had finished talking with Saul,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 Jonathan became one in spirit with David
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 and he loved him as himself.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 As far as we are aware,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 Jonathan hadn't even met David just yet,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:30 but he's already so impressed by what David has done
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 by killing the giant Goliath
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 that he already feels an affinity with David himself.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 And then in verse 3,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 he comes to David and makes a covenant with him.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 And Jonathan made a covenant with David
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 because he loved him as himself.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 and gave it to David,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 along with his tunic and even his sword,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 his bow and his belt.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 This scene might seem quite strange to you.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 Undressing yourself is probably not the first thing
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 you would do when you made a friend.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 You don't just go,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 here's my shirt,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 here's my pants.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 You wouldn't just do that.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 That's kind of strange.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 But let's not get too distracted here
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 by our own modern day culture.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 The scene plays out before us
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 as an incredible demonstration
00:09:15 --> 00:09:19 of Jonathan's devotion and love to David.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 By taking off his royal robes
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 and placing them on David,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 by giving him his sword and his bow, his belt,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 he's not merely signifying his gratitude
00:09:31 --> 00:09:35 and generosity towards David for what he has done,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 but he is signifying his allegiance to him,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:43 showing that he was willing to give everything to him,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 including his right to the throne.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 In David, Jonathan saw one in whom he could follow
00:09:50 --> 00:09:55 and serve and love as his friend and king.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 Later on, this allegiance will be tested in chapter 20.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 In this chapter, David feels that his life is in danger.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 He feels King Saul, Jonathan's father,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 seeks to kill him,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 and he goes to Jonathan with all this,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 knowing that Saul is quite well aware of their friendship.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 He goes to Jonathan and says,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 what's going to happen?
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 Why would this happen?
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 Here, Jonathan's love and faithfulness
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 is put to the test.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 Here, their friendship is truly put on the line.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 What will he decide to do?
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 To side with his father, the king,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 or to side with his friend, David,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 servant of the king?
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 And after dining with his father
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 and discovering his shameful hatred
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 that he had for David,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 he chose his friend.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 Verse 42,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 Jonathan said to David,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 go in peace,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 for we have sworn friendship with each other
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 in the name of the Lord,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 saying,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 Jonathan's witness between you and me,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 between your descendants
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 and my descendants forever.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 Jonathan remembered
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 and kept his covenant with David
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 that he would be his friend
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 and he would seek to preserve his life
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 and ensure his well-being.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 Jonathan did this
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 at the cost of his own well-being
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 and the throne of Israel itself.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 He fulfilled the promises
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 he had given to David,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 that he would protect him
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 and look after him,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 that he wouldn't forsake him.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 When Jonathan died in battle,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 David mourned him,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 saying this in 2 Samuel 1.26,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 I grieve for you,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Jonathan, my brother.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 You were very dear to me.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 Your love for me was wonderful,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 more wonderful than that of women.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 This is not to be confused
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 as a sexual kind of love,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 as some have done.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 No, this is a deep,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 intimate love of a friend
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 who gave his all for David.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 The friendship that David had with Jonathan
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 was more satisfying
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 than the love of any woman.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 It had a physical nature to it as well,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 back in chapter 20, verse 41,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 where it's recorded
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 that they were kissing each other,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 embracing each other.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 And it's easy for us to read this
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 and confuse it with a romantic idea
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 of kissing and embracing.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 But then we would be missing
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 what was really going on here.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 After being tested
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 and tempted to pledge his allegiance
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 to his father and king,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 he decided that he would instead
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 pledge his allegiance
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 to the future king.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 The king that God had anointed.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 And he does this
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 in the most obvious
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 and expressive way,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 by kissing him.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 Fulfilling what we see
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 in Psalm 2, verse 12,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 which says,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 serve the Lord with fear
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 and celebrate his rule
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 with trembling.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 Kiss the son,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 his son,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 or he'll be angry.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 Son, in the Psalms,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 is often used
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 the term to describe
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 the Lord's anointed,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 the king of Israel.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 And so Jonathan here
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 is showing
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 that he's not just merely
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 pledging his allegiance
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 to David,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 but to the God of Israel.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 He doesn't just merely
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 kiss the son
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 to show he is devoted,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 but showers him with kisses
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 to show that he is not just
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 his servant,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 but his friend,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 that he has great love
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 and affection for.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 This kind of friendship
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 wasn't uncommon
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 or unique
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 in ancient times.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 As Proverbs 18, 24
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 hints at,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 one who has
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 unreliable friends
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 soon comes to ruin,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 but there is a friend
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 who sticks closer
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 than a brother.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 This is certainly true
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 for David and Jonathan,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 perhaps true
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 for some of you
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 as well.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 As Katie and I
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 prepare to get married,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 we are obviously
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 looking at the guest list
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 of who's going to come,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 who's not going to make it.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 And obviously there are
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 some family members
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 that we have,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 as I'm sure you all know,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 that we would rather
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 leave off the guest list
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 because we've got
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 other friends
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 we want to bring
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 to the reception itself.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 And so we have
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 deeper connections
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 and relations
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 with our friends sometimes
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 than our own family members,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 just like David
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and Jonathan had.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 Just because we might
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 be related by
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 blood doesn't mean
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 we necessarily enjoy
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 the same kind
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 of deep relationship.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 However,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 in our modern world
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 we seem to think
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 that marriage
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 and what comes
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 naturally after that,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 family,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 is the ideal place
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 for finding fruitful,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 intimate,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 and fulfilling
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 relationships.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 But at least
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 ever since
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 the book of Proverbs
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 and the example
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 of Jonathan,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 family doesn't
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 necessarily provide
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 that for us.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 It's a myth
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 that you can only
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 find love
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 and intimacy
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 in a romantic
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 sexual relationship
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 and then in family.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 Yet we are constantly
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 told through all our media,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 through books,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 through movies,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 through whatnot,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 that we absorb
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 each and every day
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 that that is so.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 And we end up
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 believing it.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 Which leads us
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 as Christians
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 to idolise the idea
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 of the married life,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 to dread
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 the single life,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 but also to forget
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 altogether
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 the value
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 and benefit
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 of friendships.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 We need to
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 deconstruct this myth.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 There is a way
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 that we can
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 pursue deep
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 and meaningful
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 friendships
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 that are satisfying,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 that are there for us
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 in times of need.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 But what this looks like
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 for us
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 is the question.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 And how does the gospel
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 shape our relationships
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 is the other question.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 I think the key
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 to the strength
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 of David
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 and Jonathan's
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 friendship
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 was that they
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 placed at the centre,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 was what they placed
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 at the centre
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 of their relationship.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 And for us,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 that is the key
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 as well.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 If you take a moment
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 to think of your own friends
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 and your own life
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 around you,
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 think,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 how did I become
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 friends of these people
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 right now?
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 How did I meet them?
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 And why are we
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 your friends?
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 What brought us together?
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 Most of the time
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 it's going to be
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 because of a particular
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 circumstance
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 that brought you together.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 You've got your work friends
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 that you met at work,
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 your school friends
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 you met at school,
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 your church friends
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 you met at church,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 your friends at mother group
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 that you met at mother group.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 These places
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 are the places
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 which we make friends.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 And then,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 as you interact
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 with all these different people
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 in these places,
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 you work out
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 the people you want
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 to be friends with
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 based off the similar
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 interests you have
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 with them,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 you have conversations
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 with these people
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 and there are moments
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 of affinity with them.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 As you say,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 you watch The Bachelor,
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 so do I.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Let's be friends.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 You follow the swans
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 and you're grieving too?
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 Yes,
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 who am I?
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 Let's be friends.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 You like travelling?
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 You like doing that too?
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 So do I.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 Let's be friends.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 C.S. Lewis
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 puts it like this.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 Friendship
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 is born
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 at the moment
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 when one man
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 says to another,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 what, you too?
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 I thought that
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 no one but myself
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 something.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 Friendship is something
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 we enter into
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 freely
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 with one another
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 when we find
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 some affinity
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 with the other person.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 I remember
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 having this exact
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 experience at 21st,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 like just like this.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 I semi-crashed
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 this 21st
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 and the person
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 I had met
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 was this,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 he's his girlfriend's
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 21st.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 And we're on the
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 dance floor
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 having a great time
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 and we just had
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 this moment
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 where we realised
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 we like the same music,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 we like the same
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 hobbies,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 we like the same
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 kind of clothing brands.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 we had this
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 incredible moment
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 where we just enjoyed
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 each other's hobbies
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 and we became
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 straight away
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 best friends.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 And that sparked
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 this friendship.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 We actually are
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 quite good
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 at establishing
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 friendships
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 with people.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 All you need
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 is a particular
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 circumstance
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 and a particular
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 interest
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 and straight away
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 you can get
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 a friendship going.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 But the problem
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 is that we aren't
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 very good at
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 keeping friends.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 And the reason
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 is because
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 most of our
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 friendships
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 fail to be
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 any deeper
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 than the circumstances
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 and the interests
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 that we have.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 We rely upon them
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 too much
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 to hold it all together
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 but the reality is
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 things change
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 over time.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 Interests change
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 or we change
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 locations
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 and then all of a sudden
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 our friendships
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 also change.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 Danny Hoon
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 a friend of mine
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 back in high school
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 we were in the same
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 tutor group
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 or home group
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 you might call it
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 in the same
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 social group
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 as well
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 we caught the same
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 bus together
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 and we saw each
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 other a lot
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 throughout high school.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 We would hang out
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 every single day.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 We would go to
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 Macca's
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 during lunchtime
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 and sneak off
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 in our car.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 After school
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 we would go to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Castle Towers
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 and eat Pizza Hut
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 together.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 We would hang out
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 every single day
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 together
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 five days a week
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 at school.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 It's been eight years
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 now since I've
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 finished high school
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 and I've not seen
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 him since.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 I've even heard
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 from him.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 I have no idea
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 what he's doing
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 in his life
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 and how he's going.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 Like that
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 a solid friendship
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 was dismantled
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 and gone
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 because the
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 circumstances
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 were taken away
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 and the interests
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 were not able
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 to flourish
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 anymore.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 And this
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 is the sad
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 reality we all
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 live in.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 We base
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 our friendships
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 around the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 convenient
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 circumstances
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 we all live
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 in.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 We struggle
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 to stay
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 connected
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 with people
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 as friends
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 when those
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 circumstances
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 change.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 So it's no wonder
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 why the world
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 views friendship
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 as a second
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 class relationship.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 It seems
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 it's not the
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 same as
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 marriage
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 which has a
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 longevity
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 and a commitment
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 to it
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 and therefore
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 it can't be
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 as satisfying
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 for feeling
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 as marriage
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 or romantic
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 sexual
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 relationships.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 But as we've
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 seen in the
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 Bible
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 friendship has
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 an incredibly
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 high status
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 friends.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 The Bible
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 holds in
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 high regard
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 friends.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 And it's a
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 part of our
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 being.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 Known down
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 in Genesis
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 1.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 Man was not
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 meant to
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 live alone.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 God made
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 us to live
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 in friendship.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Part of
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 living in
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 the good
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 order of
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 creation
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 part of
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 what our
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 design is
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 is to be
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 friends at
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 the heart
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 of it.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 Not just
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 friends with
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 God but
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 friends of
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 each other.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 The gospel
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 story not
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 only unites
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 us to God
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 through Jesus'
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 death and
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 resurrection but
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 unites us to
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 each other as
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 well.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 And so
00:20:38 --> 00:20:42 how can
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 we then
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 have
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 satisfying
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 intimate
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 relationships,
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 friendships of
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 each other?
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 The gospel
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 I think
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 removes the
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 circumstances
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 and interest
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 as the
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 things that
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 hold our
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 friendships
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 together and
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 replaces these
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 things with
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 Christ himself
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 in the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 centre.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 Christ
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 becomes the
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 person we
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 anchor our
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 relationship in
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 and by doing
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 so the
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 friendship is
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 given a
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 purpose that
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 is based in
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 eternity.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 It firstly
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 removes the
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 circumstance from
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 the equation
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 because the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 place in which
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 our relationship
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 grows and
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 matures is in
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Christ as
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 Ephesians 2.13
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 reminds us.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 But now in
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 Christ Jesus
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 you who were
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 once far away
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 have been
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 brought near
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 by the
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 blood of
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 Christ.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 The way in
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 which God
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 has reconciled
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 us to each
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 other is by
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 drawing us
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 together in
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 Christ.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 Not in our
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 workplace,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 not in our
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 mother's groups,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 not in our
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 AFL football
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 clubs that we
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 are a part
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 of, but in
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 Christ.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 It's in
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 him that we
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 as believers
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 enjoy a place
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 for our
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 friendship to
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 flourish.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 A place that
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 will not fade
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 away or change,
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 a place that
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 we cannot escape
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 from no matter
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 how far we
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 might travel,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 a strong
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 foundation for
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 our friendships
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 themselves.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 It also
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 removes interest
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 from the
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 equation because
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 we are not
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 drawn together
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 because of the
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 common interest
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 we all have in
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 something, but
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 we are drawn
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 together because
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 of the common
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 faith we
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 express.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 Ephesians 4
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 4 reminds us
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 this, there is
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 one body and
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 one spirit just
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 as you were
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 called to one
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 hope when you
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 were called.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 One Lord, one
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 faith, one
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 baptism, one
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 God and Father
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 over all who
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 is over all and
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 through all and
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 in all.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 We are not like a
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 football club.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 We haven't all
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 come here together
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 because we like the
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 same AFL team.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 I think that's
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 pretty obvious.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 Not even our
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 love for waking
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 up early on
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 Sunday morning.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 to sing and
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 to read and
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 to hear some
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 guy preach and
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 to do this
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 thing called
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 church.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 No, it's in
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 the fact that
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 God has drawn
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 us together in
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 Christ and that
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 we share this
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 same experience
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 of being saved
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 and being known
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 by God and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 that's why we've
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 come together
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 because God has
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 actually brought
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 us here together.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 We're all very
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 different people.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 We all come from
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 different places,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 different backgrounds,
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 different interests,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 and yet we're all
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 here together.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 that's a miracle.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 None of you would
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 be here right now
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 if it weren't for
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 Christ and for
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 him drawing you
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 in.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 This is why we
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 wake up early to
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 come to church.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 This is why I can
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 be friends with
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 Sam who supports
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 GWS.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 Because we are in
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Christ.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 Christ is the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 place in which
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 our friendships
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 flourish, removing
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 circumstance.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 And Christ is the
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 person that draws
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 us together, removing
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 interests from the
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 equation.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 And because he is
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 such, it means our
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 friendships can have
00:24:01 --> 00:24:04 an eternal purpose.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 And what is that
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 purpose?
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 It's a mutual
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 desire for one
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 other to see
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 each other, our
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 friends, grow in
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 maturity in Christ.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 To help them
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 continue on the
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 journey of faith.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 As Hebrews 10
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 reminds us, to
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 spur each other
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 on towards love
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 and good deeds
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 all the more as
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 we see the day
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 approaching.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Our goal for our
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 friendships, our
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 Christian spiritual
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 friendships, is to
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 see each other
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 get to the end.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 As we run the
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 race together, we
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 serve each other, we
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 pray for each other,
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 we read the words
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 together with each
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 other, because we
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 want to see our
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 friends make it.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 When we allow our
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 friendships to be
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 dictated by the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 world, to allow our
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 interests and our
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 circumstances to be
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 the main things as to
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 what holds our
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 friendships together,
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 we won't only just
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 become lonely, but
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 we'll also be tempted
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 to turn our
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 friendships into
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 rivals as well.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 being filled with
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 envy or jealousy,
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 looking at our
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 friends becoming
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 rivals.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 But when we anchor
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 our friendships
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 around God in
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Christ, the
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 character of
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 friendship changes
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 to be more about
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 serving the other
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 person, that is,
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 about gaining from
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 them, to help them
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 run the race of
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 life well.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 This is exactly the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 kind of relationship
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 Jonathan and David
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 had.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 They had at the
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 centre of their
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 friendship a desire
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 to honour and to
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 serve God above all
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 else, which is why
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 Jonathan was not
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 tempted to become
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 David's rival.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 He was not
00:25:48 --> 00:25:51 tempted to actually
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 in the end support
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 his own father who
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 was wrong, but he
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 desired what was
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 good and what was
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 right and proper,
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 and that was to
00:25:57 --> 00:26:01 serve David and to
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 serve God as his
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 king.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 In the same way, as
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 we seek to befriend
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 one another, our
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 desire for doing
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 so, it's not
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 because we have the
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 same interests,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 although that might
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 be the case.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 It's not because we're
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 in the same place all
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 the time, although
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 right now we are in
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 the same place.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 These things are
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 helpful, but the
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 ground for which our
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 friendships always
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 hold together is
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 Christ.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 The purpose for its
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 longevity is always
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 Christ.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 And when we
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 practise friendship
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 in such a way, that's
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 when we enter into
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 what is the most
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 satisfying and
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 fulfilling forms of
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 relationship, the
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 spiritual friendship.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 As Christians, we
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 practise the art of
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 spiritual friendship
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 for the sake of
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 spurring each other
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 on towards love and
00:26:49 --> 00:26:52 good deeds, towards
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 helping each other
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 seek to glorify and
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 to make God look
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 great.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 That is the ultimate
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 purpose of our life,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 to live and to love
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 God, and that's the
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 purpose of our
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 friendships, to help
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 make that flourish and
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 easy in some way.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 To be there when it's
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 difficult and to be
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 there when it's good.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 To continue to draw
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 our eyes back to God
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 in both those times.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 That we might all
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 reach the goal of
00:27:21 --> 00:27:24 being with him and
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 with each other in the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 new creation.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 When that is the goal
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 of our friendships, it
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 will allow the space
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 for being loved and
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 cared for, vulnerable
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 and helped, satisfied
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 and fulfilled as we
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 seek in Christ not
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 only one's present
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 good, but also one's
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 eternal good.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 Amen.
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 Indeed.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 Amen.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 Amen.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 Amen.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:56 Amen.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 Amen.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 Amen.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 Amen.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 Amen.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 Amen.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 Amen.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 Amen.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 Amen.
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 Amen.
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 Amen.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 Amen.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 Amen.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 Amen.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 Amen.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 Amen.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 Amen.
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 Amen.
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 Amen.
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 Amen.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 Amen.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 Amen.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 Amen.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 Amen.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 Amen.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 Amen.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 Amen.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 Amen.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 Amen.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 Amen.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 Amen.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 Amen.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 Amen.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 Amen.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 Amen.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 Amen.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 Amen.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Amen.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 Amen.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 Amen.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 Amen.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 Amen.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 Amen.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 Amen.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 Amen.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 Amen.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 Amen.